Rachael Heyhoe Flint 2022: 5th
Charlotte Edwards Cup 2022: 2nd
Most Runs RHFT: Abbey Freeborn (227) Most Runs CEC: Amy Jones (289)
Most Wickets RHFT: Grace Potts (10) Most Wickets CEC: Grace Potts (12)
New Signings: Chloe Brewer (Domestic Contract), Katie George (Domestic Contract), Bethan Ellis
New Domestic Contracts: Davina Perrin, Hannah Baker, Grace Potts, Georgia Davis
Departed Players: Gwen Davies, Thea Brookes, Clare Boycott, Sarah Glenn, Chloe Hill, Steph Butler
Star Player: Abbey Freeborn
Young Player: Hannah Baker
Reaching the final of the Charlotte Edwards Cup, Central Sparks’ 2022 campaign was their most successful yet. However, it was not all smiles as their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy campaign was their worst yet and they finished 5th.
Central Sparks’ typical XI will be looking very different to last year’s line up. England leg-spinner, Sarah Glenn made the move to The Blaze at the end of the season and wicket-keeper, Chloe Hill, signed for the Southern Vipers after last season’s loan there. Thea Brookes headed to the Sunrisers, while Steph Butler has started training with Thunder. Gwen Davies and Clare Boycott also departed the team at the end of last season.
With this, however, came some new signings. Gun batter, Chloe Brewer, signed her first professional contract, joining from the South East Stars. After a successful season, scoring two half centuries in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint – one of them being against Sparks – Brewer had her hopes set on a contract.
“I do believe there are further contracts coming up but I'm not sure the ins and outs of all the details” she explained. “Obviously I'd like to be and hopefully in a few years most teams will be fully professional because at the moment it's hard to have half a team at training full time so it's definitely going in the right direction that's for sure.”
All-rounder, Katie George also was recruited, signing from Western Storm. George lost her England contract this year, but signing with Sparks has enabled her to stay as a professional. After struggling with injury for the past few seasons, this summer will be key for George.
One of Sparks’ stand-out players in 2022 was new signing, Abbey Freeborn. In the Charlotte Edwards Cup, Freeborn found her place coming in at number four while Amy Jones took the gloves. However, in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint, Freeborn thrived at number three and also was behind the stumps as the first-choice keeper. She scored 227 runs in the tournament, becoming Sparks’ top run-scorer.
The wicket-keeper’s move from ‘Lightning’ in 2021 has paid off and she has thrived at Sparks, becoming an essential batter in their line-up. Abbey’s consistency last year was what set her apart and this was evident through her average of 45.4.
Another standout player at Sparks is 19-year-old Hannah Baker. Baker has been involved with Sparks since the first year of the regional system in 2020. Last season, Hannah took 12 wickets in 13 games in both regional competitions and in 2022 was re-signed for Welsh Fire after being an injury replacement in 2021. Most recently, the local Brummie was picked up in the Hundred Draft for Birmingham Phoenix for £18,750.
Baker was also a part of England women’s U19 team who were finalists at the inaugural U19 World Cup in South Africa in January 2023. The leg-spinner took 3/10 from her four overs in the thrilling semi-final against Australia. It was a winning spell and led to Baker being named player of the match. She was later named in the team of the tournament.
These high-pressure situations that Baker has experienced while playing in the U19 World Cup stand her in good stead for crunch games and if Sparks progress to the latter stages of either competition.
What will Central Sparks want?
Another chance. Sparks lost their chance at winning silverware last season, being thrashed by Vipers in the final. Sparks did well to reach the knockout stages given how competitive and close the tables were, but, with an even stronger squad, they will strive for a second chance this season.
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